Welcome back to this week’s TEAM LEWIS Social Round-Up.
This one’s all about platforms quietly nudging us back toward actual interaction. Instagram reminding us that replying still matters, Edits getting more useful by the week, Meta smoothing out creator partnerships, LinkedIn leaning harder into AI skills and video ads, and Spotify deciding group chats are its next move.
No wild pivots. Just lots of small changes that add up if you’re paying attention. Let’s get into it 👇
Latest News
💬 Replying to your Instagram comments can boost engagement by 21%
One of the least exciting Instagram “hacks” has turned out to be one of the most effective. New data from Buffer, analysing more than 700,000 posts, shows that posts where creators reply to comments see around a 21% lift in engagement compared to their own usual performance.
What’s nice about this is how un-mysterious it is. No timing tricks. No secret formats. Just being present and keeping conversations going. Instagram’s algorithms still care about time spent, interaction history, and real back-and-forth. Replying to comments ticks all three. 👉 Read more
✨ New updates land in Edits
Instagram’s Edits app has rolled out a set of practical updates. You can now copy and paste elements, work with a more detailed timeline, apply edits across audio and visual tracks, and Android users finally get access to the same tools.
It’s not a headline-grabbing update, but it makes Edits feel more like something you can actually rely on day to day. Less friction, fewer workarounds, and quicker ways to get ideas out without bouncing between apps. 👉 Read more
🤝 Meta improves creator discovery in Creator Marketplace
Meta has updated its Creator Marketplace to make finding the right creators easier. Brands will now see recommendations based on creators who already follow them, have tagged them, or have actively said they’re open to partnerships.
You can also search for similar creators based on past collaborations and see indicators highlighting creators with strong ad experience. It’s a shift away from cold outreach and toward partnerships that already have some chemistry baked in. 👉 Read more
🧠 LinkedIn adds new generative AI qualifications
LinkedIn is introducing new AI-related qualifications that sit directly on your profile, starting with a “Vibe Coding” certification backed by tools like Replit and Zapier. These are based on real usage, not exams.
It’s early days, but it feels like the start of a different way of proving skills. Less about certificates collected, more about showing what you actually use and know how to work with. 👉 Read more
📊 LinkedIn continues to add users and revenue
LinkedIn has hit $5 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time, with steady member growth and a noticeable lift in video ads. Interestingly, Microsoft skipped the usual “record engagement” line this quarter.
Member numbers aren’t the same as active users, but there are still hundreds of millions of people using LinkedIn to talk work, share ideas, and build credibility. Video continues to grow, and LinkedIn’s role as a trusted source for AI search results is becoming more obvious. 👉 Read more
🎧 Spotify rolls out group chats
Spotify is continuing its slow move into social features with the launch of group chats. You can now message up to 10 people you already share content with, chatting about playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks.
It’s not trying to replace messaging apps. It’s more about keeping conversations closer to the content itself. Another example of platforms gently pulling interaction back inside their own walls. 👉 Read more
🔧 Quick Tip of the Week
This week, try being deliberately responsive. Pick one or two posts and make sure you reply to every comment while the post is still fresh. Keep it light, keep it human, and see how it performs compared to your usual baseline.
✨ Campaigns We Love ✨
🟦 IKEA wraps Copenhagen in flat-pack
IKEA turned a city into a giant unboxing moment to prove its store isn’t just a showroom. Simple idea, massive scale, very IKEA. 🗃️ That’s a wrap
🌶️ Absolut x Tabasco spicy vodka
I don’t know if it’s a great campaign, but I absolutely want to try the drink. Sometimes that’s enough. 🍸 Spicy Margs here we come
🗓️ Mark Your Calendars
Opportunities to celebrate this week
- Wednesday February 4 – World Read Aloud Day 📚
- Thursday February 5 – World Nutella Day 🍫
- Friday February 6 – National Woman’s Heart Day ❤️
- Saturday February 7 – International Pisco Sour Day 🍸
- Sunday February 8 – Super Chicken Wing Day 🍗
- Monday February 9 – National Pizza Day 🍕
- Tuesday February 10 – International Bagpipe Day 🎶
And next…
- Wednesday February 11 – National Latte Day ☕
- Thursday February 12 – Hug Day 🤗
- Friday February 13 – World Radio Day 📻
- Saturday February 14 – International Book Giving Day 📖
- Sunday February 15 – World Whale Day 🐋
- Monday February 16 – Innovation Day 💡
- Tuesday February 17 – Random Acts of Kindness Day 💛
- Wednesday February 18 – Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day 🍦
That’s a wrap for this week!
I’m off to reply to some comments like it’s 2016 again and see if the algorithm notices and then set up a group chat on Spotify. Just another platform to get me on.
See you next week, bye 👋
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